Intelligent patching system

ABSTRACT

An intelligent network patch field management system is provided that includes active electronic hardware, firmware, mechanical assemblies, cables, and software that guide, monitor, and report on the process of connecting and disconnecting patch cords plugs in an interconnect or cross-connect patching environment. The system is also capable of monitoring patch cord connections to detect insertions or removals of patch cords or plugs. In addition, the system can map embodiments of patch fields.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No.61/113,868, filed Nov. 12, 2008. This application is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to network documentation and revisionsystems, and more particularly to a system for implementing anintelligent interconnect and cross-connect patching system.

BACKGROUND

Communications networks are growing in number and complexity, and arecontinually being interconnected to satisfy customers' needs. Patchpanels are used in communications networks as intermediate elementsbetween horizontal cabling (to which endpoint devices such as computersand telephones are connected) and network switches. Specifically, patchpanels include a panel of network ports that connect incoming andoutgoing lines of a local area network (LAN) or other communicationsystem. In a LAN, for example, the patch panel connects the network'scomputers to switches or routers that enable the LAN to connect to theInternet or another wide area network (WAN). Connections are made withpatch cords. The patch panel allows connections to be arranged andrearranged by plugging and unplugging the patch cords.

When physical connections between endpoint devices and network switchesare added, moved or removed, patch panels are the points at whichtechnicians complete the required installations or removals of patchcords within patch fields. Patch panels offer the convenience ofallowing technicians to quickly change the path of selected signals.

It is important to maintain a record of changes that are made to patchcord connections within the patch field. Proper documentation of changesin the patch field assures that the routing of patch cords is alwaysknown and further assures that any future changes are completedcorrectly.

Human error associated with the implementation and maintenance ofphysical cable connections between network communication equipment canresult in significant negative impact to a network. Such negative impactcan be avoided through improved control and verification of networkcable installation and removal work orders implemented by networktechnicians.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the present invention, systems for guiding patchcord installations and removals in a network are provided. Patch panelsare provided including ports and panel management modules (PMM) havingthe capability to detect insertion or removal of patch cords at ports ofthe patch panel. PMM's are also equipped to communicate with a networkmanagement system (NMS). Systems according to the present invention mayalso include additional patch panels having expansion modules (EM's).The EM's are connected to the PMM and extend the functionality of thesystem to additional patch panels while employing simpler electronicsand lowering the overall cost of the system. Panels having PMM's or EM'sinstalled therein are termed “intelligent patch panels.”

A system may be used to provide a method of guiding patch cordinstallations and removals in a cross-connect network by detectinginsertion or removal of patch cords at ports of the patch panels. Themethod includes receiving a “nine-wire” patch cord into a patch panelport and determining whether a far end of the nine-wire patch cord isplugged into an intelligent patch panel. The method also includesinitiating communications and exchanging data via a ninth wire of thenine-wire patch cord when both ends of the nine-wire patch cord areinserted into intelligent patch panel ports, and communicatingconnection status to the PMM. Further, the PMM is equipped to supply anetwork management system (NMS) with information regarding theconnection.

The term “nine-wire” is used herein to denote an extra conductor beingused beyond the eight conductors in a standard eight-conductor Ethernetpatch cord. It is to be understood that this term denotes an additionalconductor being used for patch cord management purposes, and thus theprinciples of this invention may be employed in, for example, opticalsystems or systems employing more or fewer than eight conductors, aslong as an additional conductor in the patch cord can be used formanagement functions. Similarly, the term “ten-wire” is used herein toindicate patch cords and systems that have two additional conductors inpatch cords that can be used for management functions. These terms arenot meant to literally limit the present invention to include only patchcords having nine or ten wires within them.

The system may be used to provide for a method of guiding patch cordinstallations and removals in an interconnect network. This aspect ofthe present invention involves detecting insertion or removal ofnine-wire patch cords at ports of an intelligent patch panel. Further,insertion or removal of switch-side patch cord plugs into switch portsis detected via various embodiments, including ground detection, as theninth wire is connected to a grounding shield on a switch plug of thepatch cord.

These and other aspects of the present invention are explained to thoseof ordinary skill in the art in the following detailed description, withreference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodimentsnoted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cross-connect networkarchitecture;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an interconnect networkarchitecture;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an intelligent patch panel with apanel management module (PMM);

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an intelligent patch panel with apanel management module (PMM);

FIG. 4 a is a partially exploded view of an intelligent patch panel witha PMM;

FIG. 4 b is a front view of a user interface;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a PMM;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a PMM;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an expansion module (EM);

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a user interface;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a patch panel blank insert;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a wing board according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a configuration of PMM's and EM's;

FIG. 12 is a front view of an intelligent patch panel installed in aninterconnect configuration;

FIGS. 12 a-d show printed and graphical technician instructionspresented on a PDA for patch cord operations in a “nine-wire” embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the operation of an interconnectpatch cord;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a shielded interconnect patch cord;

FIG. 15 is a front view of intelligent patch panels installed in across-connect configuration;

FIG. 16 is a rear view of a patch panel having a PMM that isdaisy-chained to EM's;

FIGS. 17 a-d show printed and graphical technician instructionspresented on a PDA for patch cord operations in a “ten-wire” embodimentof the present invention; and

FIGS. 18 a-d show user interface modes according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application provides a system with modular patch panels,panel management modules (and optional expansion modules), userinterface modules, enhanced patch cords, and software that enablesoperations and management aspects of the system. Systems according tothe present invention enable guided installation and removal of patchcords in cross-connect and interconnect environments.

Patch panel systems of the present application may be used withincross-connect or interconnect type architectures. FIG. 1 is a blockdiagram illustrating a cross-connect architecture 10, which is aconfiguration including a switch 12 coupled to an end computer 18through a first patch panel 14 and a second patch panel 16. It is to beunderstood that the computer 18 could be replaced with any endpointdevice, such as a VoIP phone or a wireless access point. In the presentinvention, the panels 14 and 16 are provided with “intelligence” in theform of active electronic components and circuitry, which may beprovided in PMMs and wing boards for example. The switch 12 is connectedto the first patch panel 14 via a standard patch cord 20. The first andsecond patch panels 14 and 16 are connected via nine-wire cross-connectpatch cords 22 (explained in more detail below; for clarity, only one isshown in FIG. 1); and the second patch panel 16 is connected to thecomputer 18 via horizontal cabling 24. One of the patch panels 14 isconnected via an Ethernet management connection 26 to a networkmanagement system 28, which may contain software to allow a user to viewinformation about the connections between the first and second patchpanels 14 and 16. The network management system 28 may also be connectedto the switch 12 via a switch connection 30.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an interconnect architecture 32,which is a configuration including a switch 12 coupled to the endcomputer 18 through one patch panel 14. As with the cross-connectarchitecture, the panel 14 in an interconnect architecture is alsoprovided with “intelligence” in the form of circuitry, preferablycontained within a PMM as described further below. In the interconnectarchitecture 32, the patch panel 14 is connected to the switch 12 with anine-wire interconnect patch cord 88. As described further below, in apreferred embodiment, determination of the connection of the nine-wireinterconnect patch cord 88 to a port of the switch 12 is achieved viaground detection.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a PMM 36 installed within a patch panel 14.FIG. 4 is a rear view of a PMM 36 installed within a patch panel 14. ThePMM 36 provides a processor for managed network solution products andapplication-specific wing boards 38 (shown in FIG. 10), which areinstalled along the left and right sides of the PMM and communicate withthe PMM. Firmware within the PMM 36 allows the support of differenttypes of wing boards. The wing boards, such as wing board 38, mayinclude discrete components, program array logic (PAL) devices, PICmicrocontrollers, or microprocessors, and the PMM 36 may communicatewith any of these devices. Arrow 39 in FIG. 3 shows the location where aright wing board is installed.

The patch panels with PMMs include a provisioning port 40 (shown in FIG.3). The provisioning port 40 is part of a user interface 42 in a patchpanel 14 having an installed PMM 36. The provisioning port is usedduring the installation of interconnect patch cords. The user interface42 has a number of LEDs used to provide information to a technician.Further, each port of the patch panel is provided with a patch panelport LED 44 to help guide a technician during the installation orremoval of a patch cord. Preferably, the patch panel port LEDs 44 aretri-color LEDs (for example, red-green-amber) to enable the guiding ofinstallation or removal of a patch cord as further described below.

FIG. 4 a is a partially exploded view of an intelligent patch panel 14,more clearly showing where elements of the patch panel are installed.The PMM 36 is installed at the rear of the intelligent patch panel 14and the user interface 42 is installed in the front. Both the PMM 36 andthe user interface 42 may be held in place with a mounting bracket 43.Patch panel jacks 45 may be installed from the rear, as in standardpatch panels. Specialized patch cords, such as the nine-wireinterconnect patch cord 34 may be inserted into the jacks 45, such thattheir ninth-wire contacts 96 are inserted between contact pairs 84 (asshown in FIGS. 10 and 13) associated with each patch panel port. LEDs 44associated with each patch panel port are also seen in FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 4 b is a front view of a user interface 42. The user interface isshown with four LED's 47 a-d which are used to indicate various types ofinformation to a technician. For example, one LED 47 a may be used toindicate to a technician the location of a panel on which a proper portis located for a cord installation procedure as described further below.Other LED's may be used for various status alerts as may be designedinto the system. The user interface also includes two buttons 49 a and49 b, which a technician may use to interact with the user interface.For example, although many of the functions of patch panels according tothe present invention are automatic, in one embodiment the first button49 a may be a “confirmation key” that a technician can press to indicatethat a step has been completed. The second button 49 b may be a “nextkey” to indicate that the technician wishes to move on to the nextoperation or command in certain installation or removal procedures.

These buttons may also be used in a “trace mode,” in which a technicianmay cycle through all of the patch panel ports to confirm theconnectivity of patch cords in a patch field. For example, in across-connect environment, this mode may be used to illuminate LED's 44associated with both ends of each patch cord in a serial manner. In across-connect environment, communication between patch panels allows forthe tracing of all connectivity between patch panels via signaling alongninth wires of nine-wire patch cords and communication of thatconnectivity to an NMS.

The provisioning port 40 is provided on the user interface 42 and isused during interconnect patch cord installation. According to oneembodiment, provisioning ports 40 are provided only on patch panelshaving PMM's installed. Patch panels with EM's installed will have allother elements of the user interface 42, but they will not haveprovisioning ports 40.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, front and rear views of a PMM 36 areshown. The PMM 36 preferably includes three card edge connectors 46, 48,and 50 that connect with the patch panel. The patch panel accepts thePMM in a center of the patch panel. The connector 46 mates with a userinterface of the patch panel, while connectors 48 and 50 mate with leftand right wing boards of the patch panel. As shown in FIG. 6, on therear of the PMM 36 are two power ports 52 and 54, which can allow for adaisy-chain power connection. The power ports 52 and 54 may be 48-voltDC power connectors, and the PMM 36 can use either connector to receivepower, with the other available to pass power to another PMM, an EM, orother module. In another embodiment, only one power port 52 is provided.

In the center of the rear of the PMM 36 are two Ethernet ports 56 and58, which may be used for connecting to an Ethernet network and/or fordaisy chaining Ethernet connectivity between PMM's or between a PMM andan EM (via a cat5e Ethernet cable, for example). The PMM also includesan additional data port 60 (such as an RS-485 port) that may be used fordaisy-chaining to EM's or connecting to other expansion devices.

FIG. 7 shows a rear view of an expansion module (EM) 62. The EM 62 iscapable of performing some functions of the PMM, but it iselectronically simpler than the PMM and therefore less expensive on aper-port basis. For example, the EM 62 does not support a provisioningport on a panel that it is installed on, and it does not support directcommunication with an NMS. Rather, the EM has a data connection to thePMM, either directly or daisy-chained through other EM's. Daisy chainingof power is enabled by two power ports 64 and 66 on the EM, and daisychaining of data connectivity is enabled by two data ports 68 and 70,such as RS-485 ports. According to one embodiment, the data ports 68 and70 are RJ-45 jacks. Daisy chaining configurations involving EMs 62 isshown in FIGS. 11 and 16.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the user interface 42. A card-edgeconnector 80 is provided on the back of the user interface 42 to connectto a PMM. According to one embodiment of the invention, a blank insert82, as shown in FIG. 9, may be installed on patch panels that do notallow the functionality of the user interface 42.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a wing board 38. The wing board is preferablya printed circuit board assembly that includes microcontrollers (notshown), patch panel port LED's 44, and contact pairs 84. The contactpairs 84 receive ninth-wire contacts of patch cords. Wing boards 38 maybe attached to the left and right side of a patch panel. The wing boardsare electrical/mechanical assemblies that provide the mechanical andelectrical interfaces to patch cords as well as low-level communicationshardware for data transfer between patch panels (through PMMs or EM's).The wing boards may selected from different designs, such as a powerover Ethernet (PoE) wing board, a visual display wing board (such as awing board with an LCD display), a variant wing board (such as awingboard having environmental sensors such as temperature or moisturesensors) and/or combinations of the above.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a basic architecture for a patch cordmanagement system according to the present invention employing PMM's 36and EM's 62. In one embodiment, Ethernet ports 56 and 58 are used todaisy-chain PMM's 36 to one another for data connectivity between PMM's.For example, PMM patching cord 85 a connects a first PMM 36 a to asecond PMM 36 b by using a second Ethernet port 58 a on the first PMMand a first Ethernet port 56 b on the second PMM. In this embodiment,the first Ethernet port 56 a of the first PMM 36 a is connected to thecustomer network 86 for network management purposes. Additional PMMpatching cords, which may be standard eight-conductor Ethernet patchcords, are used to allow for additional daisy chaining of more PMM's.

The data port 60 a of the first PMM 36 a is used to connect the firstPMM 36 a to a first EM 62 a, via a first EM data port 68 a. SubsequentEM's may be similarly daisy-chained. FIG. 11 shows four EM's 62 a-ddaisy chained to the first PMM 36, and two EM's 62 e and 62 fdaisy-chained to a second PMM 36 b. Additional EM's may be daisy-chainedto additional PMM's, but are not shown in FIG. 11. Dedicated powerconnections are not shown in FIG. 11, but in one embodiment the PMM'shave separate power connections and power is supplied to the EM'sthrough the daisy-chained connections between the EM's and theirrespective PMM's.

Different patch cords are used with the present invention depending onwhether intelligent patch panels are being used in an interconnect or across-connect configuration. FIG. 12 shows an interconnectconfiguration, in which interconnect patch cords 88 a-c are used toconnect a switch 12 to an intelligent patch panel 14. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 13, the interconnect patch cords 88 comprisenine-wire cords 90 terminated at one end at a panel plug 92 and at theother end at a switch plug 94, which connects to a switch port 104. Thepanel plugs 92 have ninth-wire contacts 96 (shown in FIG. 13) that areconnected to the ninth wires 98 of the interconnect patch cords 88. Theninth-wire contacts 96 are designed to fit between and completeelectrical contact between the contact pairs 84 (as shown in FIGS. 10and 13) associated with ports 106 of an intelligent patch panel 14.Horizontal cabling 24 is shown connecting the intelligent patch panel 14to wall jacks 100, to which endpoint devices 102, such as VoIP phones,computers, or printers, are connected. The provisioning port 40 andother elements of the user interface 42 are also shown in FIG. 12. Patchpanel port LEDs 44 associated with each port are also shown. FIG. 12shows switch ports 104 a-c connected to ports 106 a-c with interconnectpatch cords 88 a-c.

FIGS. 12 a-d will now be used to describe the use of indicator LEDs inthe present invention to guide a technician in the installation orremoval of a patch cord, including alerting the technician to problemsthat can occur during these processes. Throughout the present invention,LEDs are used in uniform colors and patterns to indicate particularconditions of a patch cord insertion or removal. The following guideshows general indications associated with LED colors and patterns:

-   -   Flashing Green (FG): Install plug    -   Solid Green (G): The plug was installed correctly    -   Flashing Red (FR): Remove plug    -   Solid Red (R): The plug was removed correctly    -   Flashing Amber (FA): Error—remove plug

Work order software can be provided on a handheld device to control eachstep of a cable installation, removal, or change and to communicateinstructions to the installation technician via a screen. This softwarecan graphically illustrate the relevant LED signals for the operation aswell as the location of a subject port. A work order may be received viawireless transmission to the handheld device that prompts the steps forpatch cord installation or removal. The handheld device can also adviseif each step is completed correctly or incorrectly.

FIGS. 12 a-d show images that will be used on an installation device,such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, along with writtendescriptions of the steps illustrated. In each of FIGS. 12 a-d, imagesof LEDs on plugs are shown to help guide a technician, although innine-wire embodiments of the present invention, no LEDs are actuallyprovided on the physical plugs. Text describing each step is also shownfor clarity in FIGS. 12 a-d.

FIG. 12 a shows images that are displayed on the screen of a handhelddevice to guide plug installation and removal in an interconnectconfiguration for a “nine-wire” embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 b shows images that are displayed to guide plug installation andremoval in a cross-connect configuration for a “nine-wire” embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 c shows images that are displayed in connection with problemmoves, adds, or changes (“MAC's”) in an interconnect configuration for a“nine-wire” embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 d shows images that are displayed in connection with problemMAC's in a cross-connect configuration for a “nine-wire” embodiment ofthe present invention.

The PDA or other handheld device can also tell the technician the typeand length of a patch cord which is directed to be installed. The systemcan create a “Bill of Material” for patch cord requirements for eachwork order. The system can also determine the patch cord inventory. Inaddition, each type of patch cord can be color-coded, and each length ofeach type of patch cord could contain a barcode which is read beforeinstallation.

FIG. 13 shows how the patch cord management system of the presentinvention detects the insertion status of a switch plug 94 at a switchport 104. The ninth wire 98 of the interconnect patch cord 88 isconnected at the panel plug 92 to a ninth-wire contact 96, which isadapted to make contact with and complete a circuit between the contactsof the contact pair 84 associated with the panel port 106. The ninthwire 98 is connected at the switch plug 94 to a plug shield 108 which isadapted to make electrical contact with a grounded jack shield 110 ofthe switch port 104.

When the panel plug 92 is inserted into the panel port 106, a voltage isplaced on the ninth wire 98 of the interconnect patch cord 88, such thatwhen the switch plug 94 is inserted into the switch port 104, theconnection to ground will be detected by circuitry within theintelligent patch panel 14. When the switch plug 94 is removed from theswitch port 104, the connection to ground is lost and this disconnectionis likewise detected by circuitry within the intelligent patch panel 14.

FIG. 14 shows a shielded eight-wire interconnect patch cord 112 for usean alternate embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to theinterconnect patch cord 88 shown in FIG. 13, the shielded interconnectpatch cord has a ninth-wire contact 96 provided on the unshielded panelplug 92 and a plug shield 108 provided on the switch plug 94. Aninternal shield 114, which is connected to the ninth-wire contact 96, isprovided within the cable and serves as the ninth conductor for purposesof patch cord management.

In another alternative embodiment, a nine-wire shielded cable isutilized. In this embodiment, the ninth wire and the shield areelectrically connected to a pogo switch provided in the switch plug ofthe cable, and also electrically connected to separate contacts in thepanel plug of the cable. The switch completes a circuit between theninth wire and the cable shield upon insertion of the switch plug into aswitch port. This switch can be switched automatically upon insertion ofthe plug—for example a “pogo pin” style switch could be used. Using sucha system, it is possible for an intelligent patch panel to detect when aswitch plug has been inserted into a switch port or removed from aswitch port.

FIG. 15 shows two intelligent patch panels 14 and 16 according to thepresent invention being used in a cross-connect configuration.Cross-connect patch cords 22 a-c are used to connect panel ports 106 a-con the first intelligent patch panel 14 to panel ports 107 a-c on thesecond intelligent patch panel 16. Unlike the interconnect patch cords88 and 112, the cross-connect patch cords 22 have ninth-wire contacts 96(as shown, for example, in FIG. 14) on both of their plugs (i.e., firstand second panel plugs 92 a-c and 93 a-c), as both plugs are panel plugsfor insertion into intelligent patch panels. First panel plugs 92 a-care plugged into panel ports 106 a-c on the first intelligent patchpanel, and second panel plugs 93 a-b are plugged into panel ports 107a-c on the second intelligent patch panel 16. It is to be understoodthat patch cords according to the present invention, though designed foruse with the present invention, are capable of mating with standardRJ-45 jacks. Standard patch cords 105 connect switch ports 104 a-c torear ports on the intelligent patch panel 14

FIG. 15 shows two intelligent patch panels with PMMs 36 installed, andthus both intelligent patch panels 14 and 16 are shown in FIG. 15 withprovisioning ports 40 thereon. Alternatively, one of the patch panelsmay have an EM rather than a PMM installed, in which case the panel withthe EM installed will not have a provisioning port. This is because inan installation with EM-based panels, the provisioning port on thePMM-based panel will fulfill the functions of the provisioning port forall panels having EM's that are connected to that PMM.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of a patch panel arrangement in which a firstintelligent patch panel 14 having a PMM 36 installed is daisy-chained tothree additional intelligent patch panels 116, 118, and 120 having EM's62 a-c installed. A power cable 122 supplies power to the firstintelligent patch panel 14. Power and data connectivity is provided tothe daisy-chained EM's 62 a-c via EM daisy-chain cables 124. The PMM 36is attached via a first RJ-45 patch cord 126 to a network switch, forexample for network management purposes. The PMM may optionally beattached via a PMM patching cord 85, which may be an RJ-45 patch cord,to other PMM's which are daisy-chained for data connectivity.

In an alternate interconnect embodiment, a switch is provided with anLED adjacent to each switch port, with the switch port LED's beingcontrolled by an intelligent patch panel system. The switch plug on a“ten-wire” patch cord may be provided with LED's to assist ininstallation and removal procedures, plus a light detector, such as asilicon photo detector in series with a resistor. To map the patchfield, the switch port LED's flash at a particular frequency one at atime, with the signal being received by the intelligent patch panel towhich the patch cord is connected. In order to determine if any switchplug is connected or disconnected, all the switch LED's flash at aparticular frequency on a regular cycle. In these functions, LED'sprovided on the switch plugs may be cycled off during a light detectionmode.

FIGS. 17 a-d show LED codes that are used to guide installations andremovals of patch cords, along with codes used to guide a technicianthrough problem MAC's. These illustrations may be provided on a PDAscreen or other handheld device screen as discussed above. In addition,the LED's illustrated are physically located at each patch panel portand LED's are included in each cross-connect plug and in eachinterconnect switch plug. Text describing each step is also shown forclarity in FIGS. 17 a-d. The difference between FIGS. 17 a-d and FIGS.12 a-d is that for the process shown in FIGS. 12 a-d, no actual LED'sare provided on patch cord plugs and thus the illuminated patch cordplug LED's are merely displayed as illuminated on a PDA screen. In theembodiment of FIGS. 17 a-d, patch cord plugs are provided with LED's,and thus the LED's on the patch cord plugs are illuminated, and the LEDimages on the PDA are displayed as illuminated, when appropriate.

FIG. 17 a shows images that are displayed on the screen of a handhelddevice to guide plug installation and removal in an interconnectconfiguration for a “ten-wire” embodiment of the present invention. Theoperation of LED's shown in these images correspond to the operation ofLED's provided on patch cord plugs and panel ports, providing thetechnician with a very easy-to-follow instruction set.

FIG. 17 b shows images that are displayed to guide plug installation andremoval in a cross-connect configuration for a “ten-wire” embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 c shows images that are displayed in connection with problemmoves, adds, or changes (“MAC's”) in an interconnect configuration for a“ten-wire” embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 d shows images that are displayed in connection with problemMAC's in a cross-connect configuration for a “ten-wire” embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 18 a-d show aspects of the user interface 42, including interfacemodes for use in one embodiment of the present invention. Textaccompanying each of the images of the user interface 42 describes theoperation of each mode. The referenced Physical InfrastructureManagement (PIM) software is a software tool that allows an operator toaccess information about patch cord connections and to use functions ofintelligent patch systems according to the present invention, includinginitiating work orders. Any of the illustrated and described modes canbe initiated or terminated with PIM software (including access via a PDAor other handheld device with established permissions).

Intelligent patch panel systems of the present invention provide anumber of functions and benefits. They can guide moves, adds, andchanges of patch cords. They can provide an administrator with real-timeinformation regarding network status and monitor connectivity of patchcords. They can map patch fields and facilitate planning,implementation, and documentation of connectivity installations andremovals. Further, the systems monitor patch field changes and alertadministrators of any patch field changes or potential security risks,for example by communication with an NMS. A web-based management systemmay be used to allow access to the functions of the systems, and tointerface with third-party network management systems, help deskapplications, and other enterprise systems.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for implementing an intelligentinterconnect patching system comprising: a patch cord, the patch cordcomprising a management conductor; a network switch; and a patch panel,the patch panel comprising: a wing board, the wing board comprising atleast one patch panel port, the at least one patch panel port comprisinga management conductor contact configured to electrically engage themanagement conductor of the patch cord when the patch cord is insertedinto the at least one patch panel port, the wing board furthercomprising circuitry associated with the management conductor contact;and a panel management module removably attached to the patch panel, thepanel management module configured to interface with the wing board andcomprising control circuitry that can detect whether the patch cord isconnected to the network switch by detecting whether the managementconductor of the patch cord is connected to electrical ground.
 2. Thesystem for implementing the intelligent interconnect patching system ofclaim 1 wherein the network switch comprises contacts that connect themanagement conductor to electrical ground when the patch cord isconnected to the network switch.
 3. The system for implementing theintelligent interconnect patching system of claim 2 wherein themanagement conductor comprises a metallic shield.
 4. The system forimplementing the intelligent interconnect patching system of claim 1wherein the management conductor comprises a management wireelectrically coupled to a metallic shield via a pogo switch at an end ofthe patch cord, the pogo switch configured to close when the patch cordis connected to the network switch.
 5. The system for implementing theintelligent interconnect patching system of claim 1 wherein the wingboard further comprises an indicator light associated with the at leastone patch panel port and circuitry associated with the illumination ofthe indicator light and the panel management module further comprisescircuitry configured to control illumination of the indicator light. 6.The system for implementing the intelligent interconnect patching systemof claim 1 further comprising a user interface that is accessible at aface of the patch panel, the user interface interfacing with the panelmanagement module whereby functions of the panel management module maybe accessed by a user.
 7. The system for implementing the intelligentinterconnect patching system of claim 6 wherein the user interfacecomprises a plurality of buttons and a plurality of indicator lights. 8.The system for implementing the intelligent interconnect patching systemof claim 1 wherein the panel management module comprises at least onecard edge connector through which the panel management module interfaceswith the wing board.
 9. The system for implementing the intelligentinterconnect patching system of claim 1 wherein the panel managementmodule further comprises two power ports, whereby multiple panelmanagement modules associated with multiple communications patch panelscan be daisy chained for power sharing.
 10. The system for implementingthe intelligent interconnect patching system of claim 1 wherein thepanel management module further comprises two Ethernet ports for daisychaining management data connectivity between panel management modulesof multiple communications patch panels.
 11. The system for implementingthe intelligent interconnect patching system of claim 1 furthercomprising a provisioning port accessible at a face of the patch paneland interfacing with the panel management module to provide provisioningfunctions during patch cord insertion and removal processes.
 12. Thesystem for implementing the intelligent interconnect patching system ofclaim 1 further comprising a second patch panel, the second patch panelcomprising: a second wing board, the second wing board comprising atleast one patch panel port, the at least one patch panel port comprisinga management conductor contact configured to electrically engage themanagement conductor of the patch cord when the patch cord is insertedinto the at least one patch panel port, the wing board furthercomprising circuitry associated with the management conductor contact;and an expansion management module removably attached to the patchpanel, the expansion management module configured to interface with thesecond wing board and comprising control circuitry that can detectwhether the patch cord is connected to the network switch by detectingwhether the management conductor of the patch cord is connected toelectrical ground.
 13. The system for implementing the intelligentinterconnect patching system of claim 12 wherein the panel managementmodule and the expansion module are connected via an RS485 connection.14. The system for implementing the intelligent interconnect patchingsystem of claim 1 wherein the expansion module is provided with twoports whereby multiple expansion modules may be daisy chained forconnection to said panel management module.
 15. The system forimplementing the intelligent interconnect patching system of claim 1wherein the expansion module is provided with two power ports, wherebythe expansion module may accept power from said panel management moduleand forward power on to other expansion modules in a daisy chainconfiguration.